Experimental autoimmune oophoritis and α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone

Abstract

This article focuses on primary ovarian insufficiency and the experimental models used in recent years to explain the probable mechanisms of autoimmune oophoritis and idiopathic primary ovarian insufficiency. The relationship between the immune system and the neuroendocrine system is also an important focus of this article. Activation of the immune system is necessary for maintaining homeostasis and this requires multiple interactions and regulation between the immune system and the neuroendocrine system. Neuropeptides, neuroendocrine mediators, are expressed and released primarily, but not exclusively, by the nervous system and have profound effects on the immune system. As an example of one of these peptides we describe the α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and its anti-inflammatory properties.

Keywords::

• α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone
• anti-Müllerian hormone
• autoimmune oophoritis
• experimental autoimmune oophoritis
• follicle-stimulating hormone
• inhibin
• peptides
• primary ovarian insufficiency
• steroid cell antibodies

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Catriona Kirdwood for revising the English of the manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Fondos para la Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (FONCyT-ANCyT) and Secretaría de Ciencia y Técnica (SECyT-UNC). María Ester Celis is member of CONICET and Carolina Ayala is supported by a fellowship from FONCyT. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.